Ration stamp cutter



April 4- G. M. BREWTON ET AL 4 RATION STAMP CUTTER Filed Feb. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Gracellfirewion,

. AP1fil25, 1944- G. M. BREWTON ET AL 2,347,249

RATION STAMP CUTTER Filed Feb. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fllllzlwe 6347112729206 Frank 61 Silva,

IN VEN TORS ATTDRN EYE Patented Apr. 25, 1944 RATION STAMP CUTTER Grace M. Brewton, Alluwee C. Andrews, and Frank C. Silva, Orange Grove, Tex.

Application February 11, 1943, Serial No. 475,546

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to the cutting of coupons, stamps and the like, from ration books, sheets, etc., and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved cutter.

Considerable work and inconvenience has been experienced in the handling of rationing stamps and coupons. Many of the stamps are difficult to detach and are of an inconvenient size with respect to subsequent handling. Accordingly an object of our invention is to provide a cutter wherein a coupon or stamp may be easily cut from a sheet, and in which the cutter includes a receptacle for accumulating the stamps and coupons as a function of the cutting action, so that the stamps may be conveniently assorted and counted at some later time at the convenience of the merchant.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view.

Figure 2 is a side view.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cutter part.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sheet holder.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the device.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a square rod illustrating the manner in which an end thereof is cut to provide a punch.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, we make use of a base l0 provided with an opening I 2 in which is slidably mounted a drawer I4 constituting a receptacle for the ration stamps and coupons. The vtop wall l6 of the base is provided with an opening l8 for the reception of a plunger 20 square in cross section and provided with a diagonal face 22, the edges of which constitute cutting edges for severing the stamps or coupons from the sheet.

Upon the wall is is mounted a plunger guide 24 comprising sections 26 and 28 connected by screws 30. These two sections meet in the plane of the plunger 20. A head 39 is provided on the plunger 20 and a compression spring 32 is interposed between the head and the top face of the guide 24 to normally and yieldingly hold the plunger in the position of Figure 5. The two sections 26 and 28 are grooved at 34 to the shape of the plunger 20 to slidably guide the latter.

Three cars 36 project laterally from the plunger 2|] and are provided with pins 38 to which compression springs 48 are attached, as

are attached to pins 42, as by soldering, which are fixed to a U-shaped sheet holder 44 aligned with the opening l8. These springs normally position the holder 44 at a slight distance in advance of the cutting end of the plunger, but the holder moves upwardly relatively to the plunger as the latter is pressed through the sheet or card 46 for cutting the stamp or coupon therefrom. The tension of the springs 40 is such as to press the holder 44 firmly on the sheet being cut so as to hold the latter snugly on the wall I0 as the plunger is being pressed through the sheet.

Figure 7 illustrates a square or rectangularly shaped bar 48 which is out diagonally at 50 to provide the angular face 22. This angularity causes the plunger to cut with a shearing action so as to advance easily and cleanly through the work being out. Most stamps and coupons are cut alongv two edges only, but the plunger is so formed as to out along four edges in cases where the stamps or coupons are not cut successively from the sheet.

The pieces cut from the sheet are pressed through the opening I8 and fall into the drawer M. This drawer functions as a receptacle for containing a large quantity of the pieces so that the latter may be accumulated and disposed of at the convenience of the merchant.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain our invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:

1. A punch of the type described comprising a base constituting a work support and provided with a cutting receptacle opening through the base, a plunger guided on said base for severing a cutting from the work and pushing the cutting into said receptacle, a work holder actuated through movement of the plunger for pressing the work against the base as the plunger is advanced through the work, said holder comprising a three sided member, springs mounting the holder on the plunger to yieldingly position the holder in advance of the plunger for engagement with the work prior to plunger engagement, ears projecting laterally from said plunger, said springs being attached to said ears and to the holder, a guide for the plunger mounted on said base, and a plunger return spring acting on by soldering. The other ends of the springs 40 said guide and the plunger to yieldingly hold the latter in a retracted position and with said ears engaging the guide.

2. In a punch of the character described, a base having a work supporting top provided with an opening, a cutting plunger, a plunger guide mounted on said base in alignment with the edge of the opening entered by the cutting tool, a spring yieldingly holding the plunger in a retracted position, and a work holder resiiliently mounted on the plunger to engage the work and press the latter on the top prior to plunger engagement.

3. A ration stamppunch comprising a base having a work supporting top provided with an opening, a cutting plunger, a plunger guide mounted on said base for holding the plunger in alignment with said opening, said guide comprising detachable sections dividing in the plane of the plunger, a stamp drawer mounted insaid base underneath said opening, a spring yieldingly holding the plunger in a retracted position, and a work holder yieldingly mounted on the plunger to engage the work and press the latter on said top prior to plunger engagement. said plunger being provided with an angular work cutting end.

GRACE M. BREWTON.

FRANK C. SILVA.

ALLUWEE C. ANDREWS. 

